REPORT 


•STATS' 


Division  of  Illinois  State  Reformatory 


The  Department  of 
Public  Welfare 


July  1,  1918,  to  June  30,  1920 


[Printed  by  authority  of  the  State  of  Illinois.] 


STATE  OF  ILLINOIS 

THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  PUBLIC  WELFARE 


Charles  H.  Thorne,  Director 


Division  of  Illinois  State  Reformatory 
James  F.  Scoullee,  General  Superintendent 


Illinois  State  Journal  Co. 
Springfield,  Illinois 
State  Printers 
19  2 0 


46333 — 100 


<W§|\3 


ILLINOIS  STATE  REFORMATORY 

James  F.  Scouller,  General  Superintendent 


The  greatest  step  forward  that  has  been  taken  in  the  institution 
during  the  past  biennium  has  been  the  establishment  of  the  Merit  Sys- 
tem. So  much  has  been  published  concerning  the  Merit  System  in 
various  magazines  and  bulletins,  that  but  a brief  outline  will  be  given 
here. 

Under  this  system  prisoners  are  divided  into  five  grades:  “A,” 
aB;v  “C”  “D”  and  “E.”  Upon  commitment  to  the  institution  a prisoner 
is  automatically  assigned  to  grade  “C”  and  is  eligible  for  promotion  to 
the  higher , grades  each  three  months,  provided  he  meets  the  require- 
ments in  behavior  and  workmanship.  Demotion  to  the  lower  grades 
comes  as  a result  of  poor  conduct,  or  poor  endeavor.  Each  prisoner  is 
graded  by  the  shop  or  school  instructor,  and  in  addition,  the  staff,  com- 
prised of  the  principal  officials  of  the  institution,  passes  upon  these 
markings,  and  expresses  final  judgment.  Before  the  staff  takes  action 
in  the  case  of  a prisoner  it  has  before  it  the  reports  of  the  physician, 
psychiatrist  and  psychologist,  as  well  as  a report  of  the  officials  having 
the  prisoner  under  direct  control.  Practically,  the  Merit  System  means 
that  the  prisoner  may  work  out  his  own  salvation  with  the  assistance  of 
the  staff.  His  period  of  stay  at  the  institution  is  determined,  in  a great 
measure,  by  the  conduct  he  observes. 

The  work  of  the  Merit  System  is  cooperative  with  that  of  the 
Division  of  Pardons  and  Paroles,  which  sets  the  prisoners  time  and 
determines  his  parole,  in  the  fact  that  even  though  he  may  have  served 
the  minimum  sentence  he  is  not  eligible  to  be  heard  by  the  Division  of 
Pardons  and  Paroles  until  he  has  been  in  grade  “A”  for  at  least  three 
months.  The  findings  of  the  staff  in  each  individual  case  are  before  the 
Division  of  Pardons  and  Paroles  when  it  considers  the  case  for  final 
determination.  The  staff  does  its  work  regardless  of  the  penalty  fixed 
for  the  crime  committed.  It  studies  the  individual.  The  Division  of 
Pardons  and  Paroles  considers  the  staff’s  findings,  the  crime  committed, 
and  the  previous  criminal  history  of  the  prisoner.  Once  this  division  has 
fixed  his  sentence  he  may  earn  his  good  time  according  to  the  grade  to 
which  he  is  promoted;  or  he  may  lose  time-by  being  demoted  to  a lower 
grade. 

The  system  has  not  been  in  operation  long  enough  to  assert  con- 
clusively what  results  will  be  obtained.  It  became  operative  March  1, 


4 


THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  PUBLIC  WELFARE 


1920,  and  the  first  prisoners  received  since  that  date  under  the  Merit 
System  have  not  yet  appeared  before  the  Division  of  Pardons  and 
Paroles.  There  is  no  question,  however,  but  that  the  system  is  an  ex- 
ceptionally good  one,  and  will  work  out  to  the  benefit  of  all  concerned. 
This  much  can  be  said — the  conduct  of  the  prisoners  in  the  institution 
has  been  better  since  the  Merit  System  was  put  into  operation. 

During  the  two-year  period  a psychiatrist  and  a psychologist  have 
been  assigned  to  the  institution,  with  a view  to  determining  the  mental 
ages  and  characteristics  of  prisoners  committed  here.  Their  work  has 
been  helpful,  and  should  prove  increasing^  valuable  as  the  years  go  by. 

HEALTH 

The  health  of  the  inmates  during  the  two-year  period  has  been  very 
good  indeed.  We  have  been  fortunate  in  having  a very  competent 
surgeon  who  has  performed  a large  number  of  major  operations,  with 
wonderful  success,  relieving  the  sufferings  of  many  who  would  otherwise 
not  have  been  able  to  afford  an  operation. 

Wassermann  tests  are  now  taken  of  each  inmate  as  he  enters,  and  in 
this  way  cases  of  diseases  not  otherwise  recognizable  have  been  discovered 
and  cured. 

Due  to  the  care  and  precaution  used,  the  influenza  epidemic  of  1918 
resulted  in  but  five  deaths  out  of  over  300  cases.  There  was  a slight 
epidemic  of  scarlet  fever  in  the  institution  during  the  spring  of  1920,  but 
no  serious  cases  and  no  deaths  resulted. 

Under  provision  made  in  the  last  budget  we  have  a dentist  at  the 
institution  every  day,  and  as  a result  the  teeth  of  all  inmates  are  being 
kept  in  splendid  condition. 

With  the  employment  of  a dietitian,  under  the  provisions  of  the 
budget,  it  has  been  possible  to  inaugurate  a system  of  feeding  inmates 
whereby  each  meal  is  served  steaming  hot.  The  army  cafeteria  style  is 
used  and  it  has  been  found  that  it  takes  but  a few  minutes  longer  to 
serve’ meals  steaming  hot  than  it  did  to  serve  them  practically  cold,  as 
in  the  past.  Needless  to  say,  this  has  added  a great  deal  to  the  comfort 
of  inmates  and  they  have  shown  their  appreciation  of  it.  The  employ- 
ment of  a dietitian  has  also  made  possible  the  cooking  of  food  in  a 
scientific  manner,  and  the  keeping  of  accurate  waste  accounts.  The 
ration  has  been  accurately  balanced  and  care  taken  that  each  inmate 
should  have  the  right  amount  of  food,  not  only  to  sustain  life,  but  to 
keep  him  in  a healthy  condition  and  to  promote  growth.  As  a result 
over  nine-tenths  of  the  inmates  of  the  institution  show  an  increase  in 
weight  from  the  time  of  their  arrival  until  their  release.  This  has  been 
done,  not  by  increasing  the  expenditure  for  food,  but  by  so  regulating 
waste  that  the  amount  of  food  consumed  is  less  than  it  has  been  prev- 
iously. Comparison  with  other  penal  institutions  in  the  State  shows  that 
the  cost  of  maintenance  per  inmate  has  been  less  here  than  at  any  other 
institution. 


ILLINOIS  STATE  REFORMATORY 


5 


INDUSTRIES 

At  the  present  time  the  industries  of  the  institution  are  in  splendid 
condition,  but  the  past  two-year  period  presented  many  difficulties. 

In  April,  1919,  the  manual  training  building,  which  contained  the 
finishing  and  storage  departments  of  the  chair  shop,  the  blacksmith  shop, 
machine  shop,  tin  shop,  and  manual  training  shop  was  completely 
destroyed  by  fire.  It  was  several  months  before  the  chair  shop  could 
be  put  into  operation  again,  with  a consequent  loss  of  income  to  the 
State,  and  loss  of  employment  for  inmates.  Temporary  quarters  were 
found  for  all  the  shops  and  the  work  proceeded,  although  handicapped 
by  lack  of  room.  Fortunately  the  legislature  was  in  session  and  an 
appropriation  for  two  single-story  buildings,  to  take  the  place  of  the 
burned  building,  was  made.  One  of  these  buildings  is  practically  com- 
pleted at  this  writing,,  and  the  other  is  well  under  way.  When  finished, 
the  shops  will  have  modern  quarters  and  will  be  prepared  to  do  a greater 
amount  of  work.  High  prices  of  materials  and  delays  in  transportation 
handicapped  our  industrial  departments  greatly.  Despite  all  these 
handicaps  the  industries  have  been  able  to  show  a reasonable  profit. 
During  the  next  biennial  period  great  progress  should  be  shown  in  all 
lines  of  industry. 

With  the  employment  of  a dietitian  it  was  possible  to  undertake 
canning  and  dehydrating,  with  the  result  that  during  the  past  year  over 
45,000  cans  of  various  vegetables  were  put  up.  Dehydrating  of  products 
has  also  proven  very  successful,  and  it  is  believed  that  there  is  a great 
future  for  this  sort  of  work  among  institutions  in  this  State.  Plans  for 
the  next  biennium  include  the  dehydrating  of  a large  number  of  vege- 
tables and  canning  a sufficient  amount  of  corn,  beans  and  tomatoes  to 
supply  all  the  penal  institutions  in  the  State.  Hot  only  will  this  provide 
a profitable  industry  for  this  institution,  and  result  in  giving  pleasant 
employment  to  many  of  the  inmates,  but  it  should  prove  a great  economy 
to  the  other  institutions  of  the  State. 

The  revolving  fund,  under  which  purchases  could  be  made  and 
profits  accrue,  has  proven  very  successful  indeed.  Under  it,  it  is  possible 
to  undertake  the  operation  of  industries  in  a satisfactorj^  manner  with- 
out continual  appeals  for  money,  or  the  necessity  of  continual  appropria- 
tions. It  permits  the  expansion  of  industries  in  the  institution.  With 
a somewhat  larger  fund  during  the  next  biennium  this  institution  should 
be  able  to  undertake  a number  of  industries  that  are  now  in  their  infancy. 
The  canning  and  dehydrating  plant  should  be  expanded  to  a point  where 
it  can  furnish  practically  all  State  institutions  with  canned  and  dehy- 
drated products.  The  print  shop  could  be  enlarged  and  equipped  to  the 
point  where  it  could  take  care  of  practically  all  the  State’s  printing 
needs.  The  manufacture  of  license  plates  for  automobiles  could  be 
readily  handled  under  this  fund. 


6 THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  PUBLIC  WELFARE 

PHYSICAL  CONDITION  OF  THE  INSTITUTION 

The  physical  condition  of  the  institution  has  improved  greatly  in 
the  past  two  years,  but  there  is  still  a great  deal  of  work  to  be  done. 

The  painters  have  been  continually  busy  throughout  the  two  years, 
and  the  buildings  present  a much  neater  appearance. 

Practically  all  of  the  pipe  in  the  tunnels  has  been  covered,  and 
the  tunnels  cleaned  out.  This  should  result  in  a saving  of  coal,  which 
will  more  than  pay  for  the  work  in  the  next  few  years. 

A new  hot  water  system  has  been  put  in  and  a new  cold  storage 
system  is  now  being  installed.  Porches  have  been  added  to  some  of  the 
buildings,  and  several  new  walks  laid.  An  outside  garage  has  been  built 
and  new  buildings  erected  on  the  farm,  including  a splendid  ice  house. 
Some  farm  land  has  been  added  by  the  removal  of  a large  number  of 
stumps  and  trees,  and  this,  with  the  fences  which  .have  been  put  up,  has 
improved  the  farm  greatly.  If  the  present  plans  for  the  next  biennium 
are  carried  out  the  institution  should  be  in  better  shape  than  it  has  been 
for  many  years. 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

I would  recommend  that  legislation  be  enacted  that  will  permit  the 
payment  of  a reasonable  amount  to  inmates  employed  in  profitable  in- 
dustries in  the  institution.  Not  only  would  this  benefit  the  family  of 
the  prisoner  on  the  outside,  but  would  in  many  cases  permit  of  the 
saving  of  small  amounts,  which  would  permit  the  prisoner  to  go  out  into 
the  world,  when  he  is  released,  with  a credit  which  would  tide  him  over 
until  he  was  well  established. 

I would  recommend  that  legislation  be  enacted  providing  that  where 
a prisoner  receives  the  maximum  sentence  under  the  law  he  could  be 
transferred  to  one  of  the  State  penitentiaries.  The  imposing  of  the 
maximum  sentence  on  prisoners  precludes  the  idea  of  reformation  and 
release  upon  reformation.  The  intention  of  those  responsible'" for  the  „ 
creation  of  the  Keformatory  Act  was  that  this  should  not  be  an  institu- 
tion for  the  confinement  of  long-time  prisoners,  but  for  young,  first 
offenders,  in  particular,  and  all  cases  where  a short  sentence  might  lead 
to  reformation.  I would  recommend  that  legislation  be  enacted  pro- 
viding that  no  second  offender,  21  years  of  age  or  over,  should  be  sent 
to  the  reformatory. 

It  is  recommended  that  a separate  reformatory  for  prisoners  from 
Cook  County  be  established,  and  that  this  institution  receive  only  those 
from  other  parts  of  the  State.  At  the  present  time  one-half  of  the 
prisoners  here  are  from  Cook  County.  Due  to  local  conditions  they  are 
of  a different  type  from  the  remainder  of  the  prisoners  here,  and  con- 
tact with  them  is  not  usually  helpful  to  the  prisoners  from  down-state. 

At  the  present  time  the  House  of  Correction  has  very  few  inmates,  and 
with  practically  no  addition  to  the  plant  would  make  a reformatory  for 
prisoners  from  Cook  County.  A great  deal  of  money  would  be  saved  the 


ILLINOIS  STATE  REFORMATORY 


7 


State  in  transportation  if  this  were  done,  and  at  the  same  time  parents 
should  be  pleased,  as  they  would  save  a great  deal  of  money  in  visiting 
prisoners.  I firmly  believe  that  if  this  institution  needed  to  take  care 
of  but  half  the  prisoners  now  confined  here  much  better  results  would 
be  obtained,  and  the  expense  of  conducting  the  institution  greatly 
reduced. 

I would  recommend  that  an  appropriation.be  secured  for  the  pur- 
chase of  additional  land.  The  present  acreage  does  not  provide  sufficient 
employment  for  the  inmates  of  the  institution.  The  State  can  run  a 
farm  much  more  economically  than  any  farmer,  due  to  the  cheapness 
of  the  labor,  and  a greater  profit  should  therefore  be  obtained  from  the 
land,  while  at  the  same  time  more  prisoners  could  be  given  healthy  work 
out  of  doors.  This  same  recommendation  has  been  made  by  practically 
every  superintendent  of  the  institution  since  its  establishment.  There 
is  no  question  but  that  it  should  be  carried  out  and  that  the  purchase  of 
land  would  be  of  benefit  to  the  institution  and  to  the  State,  and  at  the 
same  time  prove  financially  a success. 

I believe  that  steps  should  be  taken  looking  forward  to  securing  an 
adequate  water  suppty  for  the  institution  separate  from  the  present  local 
supply.  At  the  present  time  the  State  is  spending  $10,000  per  year  for 
water,  alone.  This  amounts  to  interest  on  about  $175,000,  and  there  is 
no  question  but  what  it  is  poor  financial  policy  to  expend  this  amount 
if  a good  water  supply  could  be  owned  and  operated.  Two  methods  are, 

I believe,  feasible : One  to  bring  a pipe  line  from  the  river  to  the  insti- 
tution, handling  the  water  here  at  the  power  house  with  the  present  force, 
with  possibly  a slight  addition.  The  other  is  the  bringing  of  water  from 
deep  wells  to  the  reservoirs  now  at  the  reformatory.  It  is  known  that 

II  or  12  miles  from  the  institution  there  are  artesian  wells  which  pro- 
vide a constant  flow.  It  is  believed  that  by  gravity  water  could  be 
brought  from  these  wells,  or  similar  wells,  to  the  three  reservoirs  now 
existing  on  the  grounds,  and  a sufficient  supply  assured  to  meet  the 
needs  of  the  reformatory.  It  would  be  necessary  to  have  the  engineering 
department  study  the  matter  and  make  recommendation,  but  I believe  in 
view  of  the  expense  of  supplying  water  to  the  State,  under  the  present 
system,  immediate  action  should  be  taken. 

During  the  biennium,  salaries  have  been  increased  to  a point  within 
hailing  distance  of  the  high  cost  of  living.  The  result  has  been  a better 
class  of  employees  and  better  service  to  the  State  and  to  the  institution. 
It  is  to  be  hoped  that  these  salaries  will  not  be  reduced  for  a long  time 
to  come. 


^OV  6 (922  ' 


